NEAR ETF — iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF

iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR)

Updated October 2, 2026.

NEAR is an ETF. its distribution rate is 4.44%, its trailing-12-month yield is 4.51%, its expense ratio is 0.25%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 88/100 (Safe). Total return is 35.4% over the past 13 years, 428.9 points behind SPY at 464.3%.

At the current 4.44% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $444 per year, or $37.00 per month.

iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF is an actively managed fund that invests at least 80% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade bonds with a portfolio duration of three years or less. The fund distributes income monthly at a current rate in the mid-single digits, with an expense ratio of 0.25%. It appeals to income-focused investors seeking modest interest rate risk and steady cash flow from a professionally managed bond portfolio.

NEAR performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-02.

Total return is 35.4% over the past 13 years, 428.9 points behind SPY at 464.3%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 1.7%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 1.1%.

NEAR key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

88 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.91%

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

09/25/2013

Expense ratio

0.25%

Distribution rate

4.44%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

4.51%

Last close

$49.78 (as of 2026-10-02)

AUM

$5,121,483,071

Average volume

697600.0

Next dividend

$0.184

Last ex-dividend date

10/01/2026

Next payment date

10/06/2026 (as of 2026-10-06)

Beta

0.23

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (4.44%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (4.51%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: iShares or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

NEAR risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 1.1%.

Who may consider NEAR — and who may not

NEAR may suit someone looking for a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare NEAR

NEAR vs similar funds:

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Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.